Charter Court accepts Don’s case for consideration

The Constitutional Court has accepted the Election Commission’s proposal for it to rule whether Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai should be disqualified for the ministerial post in connection with his wife’s shareholdings in a company.

The case is derived from a petition filed by Pheu Thai Party’s lawyer Ruangkrai Leekitwattana with the EC, seeking to probe whether nine ministers, including Mr Don, should be disqualified.

Ruangkrai alleged that Mr Don’s wife, Narirat, holds more than 5% of shares in a company. According to the 2017 charter, ministers, their spouses and children must not benefit from a shareholding beyond the legal limit of 5 per cent of all shares in that company.

The EC has forwarded the case to the Constitutional Court.

EC chairman Supachai Somcharoen said today that the court has accepted Mr Don’s case for consideration. However, the court has not yet decided when to begin with the process, he added.

“The EC has done its duty. Now, it is the court that will decide,” said Mr Supachai.

As for a petition for the EC to investigate 90 members and three cabinet ministers alleged to be holding shares in companies which have been granted a concession from the state in violation of the constitution, Mr Supachai said the investigation is being carried out into an extended period.

Those found violating this prohibition are liable to being disqualified.

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"We are totally disappointed with today’s conviction. This conviction shows that we are in a bad condition, despite the appearance that the country is heading for a functioning democratic system, freedom of expression and rule of law"